Scripture: Acts 16:32-40
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas had been locked up in prison, and around midnight as they were praying and singing praise there was an earthquake that opened all the prison doors and loosed everyone’s bonds. The jailor, who was asleep, woke up saw all the doors open, drew his sword and was ready to kill himself. Paul called out, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
Let’s now read the final words of Acts 16.
Acts 16
29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
30 And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."
32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, "Let those men go."
36 So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace."
37 But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out."
38 And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans.
39 Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city.
40 So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.
Let me give you three statistics:
In an unbelieving family…
If a Child becomes a believer,
there is a 3.5% chance that
the entire family will follow
Let me give you the next statistic:
In an unbelieving family…
If the Mother becomes a believer,
there is a 17% chance that
the entire family will follow
Let me give you one more statistic:
In an unbelieving family…
If the Father becomes a believer,
there is a 93% chance that
the entire family will follow
We desire our faith to be passed on to the next generation. We want the ceiling of our faith to be the floor of the faith of our kids.
When Paul was writing to Timothy, he spoke of the faith that was in Timothy’s family and influenced him.
2 Timothy 1
3 I remember you in my prayers night and day,
4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy,
5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.
As parents we want our faith to be passed on to our kids, and we try to live up to the words of Solomon:
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Let’s go back to Acts 16 and let me point out some of the greatest responsibilities that we have to our families.
Acts 16
29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
30 And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
My responsibility to my family
1. Always ask important questions
There are important things and there are unimportant things and it is key that we know the difference. Charles Hummel back in 1967 explained the concept of
“The Tyranny of the Urgent”
The idea is that there are things that scream for immediate attention which distract us from the really important things in our lives.
Important things need to have the priority in our lives.
Acts 16
31 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."
My responsibility to my family
2. Understand grace
Salvation is not merit based. It is not earned nor deserved. One of my favorite ways Paul explained this:
Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
It is grace OR works!
Acts 16
32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
My responsibility to my family
3. Remain exposed to the word
Don’t have an “occasional” relationship with the word.
James 1
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
God’s word is able to save you...and keep you
Acts 16
33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes.
My responsibility to my family
4. Let service be a part of who you are
Jesus, the creator of the world, had this to say about living a life of privilege.
Matthew 20
25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.
26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.
27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave —
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve , and to give His life a ransom for many."
When you are serving you are doing God’s will.
Acts 16.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
My responsibility to my family
5. Boldly declare your faith
We are not called to be obnoxious…just bold.
I love what the disciples prayed in Acts 4.
Acts 4:29 “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word…”
Listen to Paul’s advice:
Colossians 4
5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
6 Let your speech always be with grace , seasoned with salt , that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Be bold in declaring your faith, but not obnoxious!
Acts 16
34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
My responsibility to my family
6. Make hospitality a priority
The jailor could have left them in the prison, but he brought them into his home and he set food before them.
1 Peter 4:9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
Let people into your life…without grumbling!
My responsibilities to my family
1. Always ask important questions
2. Understand grace
3. Remain exposed to the word
4. Let service be a part of who you are
5. Boldly declare your faith
6. Make hospitality a priority
This chapter ends with Paul and Silas exercising their civil rights. There was a time when Paul addressed the issue of Christians suing Christians.
1 Corinthians 6
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge?
5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?
6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers !
Some have taken this to mean it is wrong for believers to seek justice. In issues that deal with fellow believers we should not be airing our dirty laundry in from on unbelievers. We should be able to handle that privately.
Paul and Silas were both Roman citizens.
Philippi was a colony of Rome.
Roman citizens were guaranteed rights.
Romans 16
35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, "Let those men go."
36 So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace."
37 But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out."
38 And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans.
39 Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city.
40 So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.